The Big Issue – ‘So much more than a good deed, it’s a damn fine read!’

We could call it a ‘double impact’ initiative! First, The Big Issue aims to move unemployed people on to the formal job market. Moreover, spreading good news in a printing magazine gives to the South African people the way to make change happening. Since 1996, it gave a work to 17 000 people around Cape Town. These persons worked with dignity and managed to improve their lives. 

Interview conducted in February 2014. 

SparkTour Africa: Why The Big Issue was created?

Trudy Vlok, Director of The Big Issue: The Big Issue was created as a response to the problem of poverty in the streets of Cape Town, and the fact that there were no economic opportunities for people to be able to take care of themselves, and feed themselves and their families.  People were dependent on hand-outs. The Big Issue was a way to provide job opportunities for people who don’t really have skills and don’t have access to job opportunities, so they could earn their own living.

How does it work exactly today?

T: The way that it works is that somebody who is unemployed, who needs to make an income can come to us, we start them off with The Big Issue magazine, which is the job-creation tool. They go out and they sell it, and they make money. Then they come back, and from when on, these people purchase the magazine for an amount, they sell it for double that amount, and then make money as their income. They become small business people in their own lives, they have to manage their money, manage their stock, held customer relations… so an important part of what they do is the dignity of working for yourself, it is actually doing something of value.

‘An important part of what they do is the dignity of working for yourself.’

And you also help them to move forward a more ‘formal’ job…

T: Yes, we have a program about formal job placement, where vendors who show an interest to move forward a more formal job market. We help to get the training, we help to place them in those jobs. That is called ‘a move-on program’, and we move on hundreds of vendors every year.

What are the main results that you are proud of?

T: I think the things we are the most proud about is all personal, because everybody has a different thing. I would say the fact that the time we have been around we have provided work for over 17 000 people, and the fact that in that time people have earned 20 million rand. They have earned by themselves, through their own work, with dignity, and they have been able to take care of themselves and their families, without having to beg. Having that is the thing we are to most proud of.

The Big Issue magazine speaks a lot about good news happening in South Africa. Why good news?

Glynis O’Hara, Editor of The Big Issue: The Big Issue has at least two sorts of aspects. One is about good news and spreading the word about people who are agents of change especially, and people love those stories, because they are overwhelmed by deluge of bad news usually on television, on newspapers… so that is very popular! The Big Issue is also about ‘big issues’, so it will also tackle every issue: something that is a special report or an investigation, and a current issue. So, there is always something serious as well, but it won’t be what you read in a normal newspaper at all.

‘People love those stories, because they are overwhelmed by deluge of bad news usually on television, on newspapers…’

Could you give three words that can describe the spirit of The Big Issue?

 T: Hope, change, dignity.

Since the beginning of The Big Issue, what was the biggest difficulty you met?

T: I think for The Big Issue, forever, the biggest difficulty is… raising money. It is a sad thing but it is. We have a social mission that makes a difference to thousands of people’s lives, but we need to raise money to fulfil that mission. That is always hard, every time.

‘I think for The Big Issue, forever, the biggest difficulty is… raising money.’

Today, a lot of young South Africans want to embark on an entrepreneurial adventure to help society, could you give them one or two advises? 

T: The best advice is that you have to really believe. You have to be able to hold on to your passion, just fight all the setbacks, and you will have to not let the cynics squash you.

G: It is really about you. Be connected and be about to hold on the beliefs and that passion despite anything else is happening around you. Not an easy thing, but that the only way to make things happen.

How do you see your organization in five or ten years? What are the big challenges of The Big Issue?

T: Our five and ten year goals are to have the national full print. Making the Big Issue available for poor people in other cities, so they can use it to better their lives and we can get more exposure around the country. Our challenges are financial.

A last word?

T: I have been here for 17 years, and every day, in some way, I am reminded of why I love doing it. I think it has got a lot do with the fact that we work through trusting the people who are most impacted by the work that we do, and on a daily basis you can see how people are changing their lives, because we happened to be here. I think that is important.

G: I think that The Big Issue is such a worthwhile magazine, such a worthwhile project. It is an honour and privilege to work here as well as to hold on to your believes and your passion!

‘It is an honour and privilege to work here as well as to hold on to your believes and your passion!’